Madrid with all it’s history and art has a lot of museums that showcase the some of the worlds greatest works and artists. I would have loved to spend an entire day just wandering around one museum and I might not even have been able to see everything. Time and money was limited so we narrowed it down to 3 museums and scheduled them during the museums’ free admissions windows.

Museo Nacional del Prado

Museo del Prado is considered to be one of the greatest museums of art in the world and for good reason. It was based on the Spanish Royal Collection and grew into one of the finest collections of European art in the world, the highlight of which is Las Meninas by Velázquez. If you only have a few hours in the museum these are the suggested routes you can take to view the masters’ works.

Personally I loved work of Rembrandt’s Judith at the banquet of Holofernes, Rubens and the Velázquez, but there was so much more and I was utterly in awe.

if you are intrigued by the enigmatic masterpiece, Las Meninas, which looks so much like a snapshot taken by a camera, this is an excellent read: Centuries Later, People Still Don’t Know What to Make of ‘Las Meninas’

MUSEO DEL PRADO

Calle Ruiz de Alarcón 23 Madrid 28014 how to get there
+34 91 330 2800 • email
hours • ticket prices • Conditions for free and reduced price tickets

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

If you like modern art then Reina Sofia is a must. The most important painting here is Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. I am not a fan of Pablo Picasso’s style but this piece was made to show the the tragedy, suffering and anguish of war and you feel it while staring at the crazed, twisted look on the subjects faces. Upon reading the Guernica’s history I can see why it’s such an important piece of art.

Personally I loved Salvador Dali’s portraits of his sister, the Retrato and Figura en una finestra (Figure at the window). I am drawn by the muted colours and and serenity I felt while staring at the paintings.

REINA SOFIA

Calle Santa Isabel 52, 28012 Madrid map
+34 91 774 1000
Opening hours and tickets
FREE ON: M-W-Th-F-Sat: 7 – 9 pm • Sun 3 – 7 pm

Museo Lazaro Galdiano

This is a much smaller museum of the private collection of José Lázaro Galdiano. Located in his turn of the century home, the house itself and it’s interiors are also something to behold. The paintings cannot compare to the national museums’ and the lighting was not the best to appreciate their details, but I found the collection of antique weaponry, place settings and other accessories so beautiful and interesting – a glimpse into the lifestyle of the past. Free admission is one hour. I definitely want to come back to this one because I spent so much time on the upper floors that it was already closing when I got the the ground floor where they had an amazing collection of antique jewellery. It’s hard to believe that this is the collection of only one man.